Episode 131

July 23, 2018

131: Should you fake it till you make it?

In this episode we answer a question from a member of the Design Life community who is wondering if they should follow the advice to ‘fake it ’til you make it’. We discuss the pros and cons of ‘faking it’, how to use it as a tool to boost your confidence if you’re feeling unsure of yourself and when to know to stop.

Key takeaways

‘Fake it til you make it’ can be useful advice if you are feeling low in confidence. Don’t feel that ‘fake it til you make it’ means you have to know everything already, and can’t ask for help. Use the advice as a tool to boost your confidence while also asking questions, doing research and learning from others with more experience.

Choose when to fake it wisely. There’s a time and a place for faking it. If you need to reassure a client that you know what you’re doing and your confidence is low, ‘fake it ’til you make it’. If on the other hand you really don’t know how to do something, be honest.

Remember that ‘fake it ’til you make it’ will only get you so far. If you don’t put in any effort to actually develop the skill or ability you’re feeling unsure of, there will come a point where the advice won’t apply anymore. Practice the skill or ability you need to improve.

Faking confidence may allow you to develop some real confidence, which is great! When you build up enough genuine confidence, stop faking and just embrace being able to enjoy an experience that previously made you feel uncomfortable and out of your depth.

Show timestamps

6:12 What does ‘Fake it ’til you make it’ really mean
9:30 Use your time ‘Faking it’ as an opportunity to learn
11:28 Believe in yourself
13:00 Faking it ’til you make it as a beginner
18:42 Developing confidence, without being fake
20:00 Dangers of faking confidence
25:30 Using ‘fake it ’til you make it’ as a motivator
27:34 Alternative advice for the Design Life community member